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If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

John Steinbeck

And, of course, people are interested only in themselves. If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen.
JOHN STEINBECK

Himself Listening People Story
It’s almost impossible to read a fine thing without wanting to do a fine thing.
JOHN STEINBECK

Impossible Reading
This I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.
JOHN STEINBECK

Destroy Fighting Freedom Government Greatness Limitation Religion
My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.
JOHN STEINBECK

Funny Hell Imagination Travel
American married life is the doormat to the whorehouse.
JOHN STEINBECK

Life Marriage Sex
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
JOHN STEINBECK

Deep Season Summer Winter
Ah, the prayers of the millions, how they must fight and destroy each other on their way to the throne of God.
JOHN STEINBECK

Fight God Philosophy Prayer
Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other.
JOHN STEINBECK

Lonely People World
It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.
JOHN STEINBECK

Expectation Greatness Himself Life Motivational
Nearly everyone has his box of secret pain.
JOHN STEINBECK

Pain Secret
You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.
JOHN STEINBECK

Empathy Feeling People Understand
People like you to be something, preferably what they are.
JOHN STEINBECK

People Yourself
If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
JOHN STEINBECK

Fight Military
It’s a hard thing to leave any deeply routine life, even if you hate it.
JOHN STEINBECK

Hate Leaving Life
How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can’t scare him–he has known a fear beyond every other.
JOHN STEINBECK

Anger Children Men
In poverty she is envious. In riches she may be a snob. Money does not change the sickness, only the symptoms.
JOHN STEINBECK

Animal Change Herself Money Sickness

If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

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If a story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule—a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More John Steinbeck Quotes